Small Craft Fairs/Markets

[Jenny Bridger]

Does anyone sell at small local markets? if so how did you find out about them and how well do you do?

[fancypicnic]

Stall sharing might solve lots of problems! Why do we have so few good, quality fairs in this country? Unless you can travel or are prepared to spend £350 plus on a stall at a big country fair, it's so difficult! Many times I've thought about trying to set one up, but the work involved is vast, and then there'd be no time left for anything else! What a quandary!

[Lilycobweb]

I do a really small craft fair in Warrenpoint, Co. Down, about 3 miles away from me. It happens first Satuday of every month in a great organic shop called 'Fresh Fields'. It's free to the crafters to come and sell, and the atmosphere is so good. The owners of the shop have a very progressive attitiude to all things handmade, green and sustainable. I'm so grateful to them. So far, it's been going well, and sales have been steadily getting better, though I haven't made a fortune yet!:)

Carlingford, just over the border into Southern Ireland, has a a first Sunday of the month craft fair and I'n hoping to get involved in that as well. Will keep you posted.

[Saras Texture Crafts]

Would you write an article for the DaWanda Directory Blog?... Here are some of the articles under craft fairs that I have had so far... http://dawandashopdirectory.blogspot.com/search/label/DaWanda%20Sel.... You can mail me at DaWanda Shop Directory Editor

[Half-an-Acre]

i've done alot of fairs - most of them i will never do again. the ones i want to do i can't afford the table fees for or they are several days - I have three kids in primary school - too hard to organize the child care - I've stopped doing them almost entirely except the ones I know only have true crafts and the right sort of people coming through.
I've wasted so much money as so-called craft fairs to be pitched next to imports and other tat - sometimes i've been the only person there who actually made their own stuff. i've had enough of it now. no one seems to be buying much these days either - i'm on a downer today!

[Half-an-Acre]

i'm think that where I live, west sussex, is just shite for crafts!
I do a great sailing regatta on the isle of wight - where we have a holiday flat - its is just one day - its right outside our flat and i took nearly £600 last year! that's alot of wooden fish! im' relying on it this year as i'm in debt in all sorts of places - paying out for my website which it turns out I can do without - arghhgghhg - hindsight!!!!!

thought! >>> i could had out a pack of everyones promo cards - put them in the bags............ i'll start a thread..

[Lilycobweb]

you make a good point, halfanacre! I'm realising that there are plenty of craftfairs, but only a few are worth doing. Still love our in-shop half-day craft market in Fresh Fields, but it's hard to make any money at it, even though the tables are free! (How cool is that?)

Got an invite to a craft fair the other day at a National Trust stately home. £45 per table! That's just prohibitive for me. And you make a good point about being included with loads of tat. I hate that. The weather isn't helping my mood today either! Tell me why you dont need your website....I was thinking of getting one! Does it help sales at all?

[Ali Bali Jewellery]

Halfan acre - did you ever do anything about your business cards idea for the Isle of Wight?